Disclaimer: Wish I did, but sadly, I do not own Twilight.
Chapter 2: Mona Lisa (When the World Comes Down)
You can sit beside me when the world comes down, if it doesn't matter
then just turn around.
We don't need our bags and we can just leave town.
You can sit beside me when the world comes down.
- "Mona Lisa (When the World Comes Down) by The All American Rejects
Edward's grip on the steering wheel was unrelenting. His eyes, although glued to the road before him, seemed distant and worried. Usually I would nag about how fast he was driving but I honestly was too scared he would just snap at me.
After what felt like an eternity on the road, we pulled to a sudden stop at the top of the Cullen driveway. He was out of the car in a flash and I was barely able to register when the passenger side opened. His stoic demeanor hadn't shifted one bit. He grabbed my hand and literally started dragging me to the front door.
As soon as we entered, I noticed the entire Cullen family seated in the family room talking quietly amongst themselves. Esme was the first to notice my presence and rushed to envelop me in a motherly embrace. "Bella, honey," Esme cooed, "please come sit down, it seems we have some things to discuss. Do you need anything to eat or drink?" I slowly shook my head and Edward dropped his hand to my lower back and guided me to the couch.
Carlisle stepped forward and immediately started inching towards Edward. "Edward," Carlisle said lowly, "you must calm down. I don't need to be able to read minds to see you are clearly overreacting. There are seven of us and one of her; Victoria will not pose much of a threat." "Victoria…" Edward hissed in a voice laced with unadulterated hatred.
Fear seeped into every inch of my skin, moving deeper and deeper till it reached my core and was being pumped throughout my body. Victoria's name rang in my head effectively snuffing out every other thought that was previously there. Beads of sweat formed on my brow but I suddenly felt very cold. She was the one by the meadow. The one that stomped on my blissful evening and effectively destroyed my boyfriend's jovial mood. I was drowning in my thoughts, lost and being pulled under by the heavy current. Minutes or hours could have passed till I finally snapped out of it and when I did, the golden eyes of seven vampires bored into my face.
"Bella," Edward whispered, "Bella, please you must not fear anything. You are safe, I promise." My jaw opened and closed multiple times trying to form words to reassure him that I wasn't scared for myself but for the family that had welcomed me so lovingly into their lives. My life was the very least of my concerns. "Uhhh," I continued to attempt to put a voice to my worries but it seemed as if my mouth and brain had disconnected. "I am taking her up to my room." Edward stated with an air of authority. Alice's soprano voice chimed in, "Edward, we should discuss this, the future is unclear and blurry…" "Enough, Alice. We will discuss everything later, Bella clearly needs to rest and process this new information." He stared at her for a moment longer; clearly engaging her in a silent conversation.
Edward picked me up gingerly and took to the stairs at an inhuman speed. Before I knew it, he was plopping us down on the plush mattress and brushing the loose strands of hair from my forehead. "Everything is going to be ok, love. We will never be parted." He whispered gently into my ear. His cool breath tickled my skin while his touch relaxed me further. The immediate onset of stress had exhausted me. Edward continued to softly stroke my hair and whispering random words into my ear. "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of Being and ideal Grace. I love thee to the level of every day's Most quiet need, sun and candlelight. I love thee freely as men strive for right; I love thee purely, as they turn from praise, I love thee with passion put to use In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith. I love thee with a love I seemed to lose With my lost saints -I love thee with the breath, Smiles, tears, of all my life! -and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death."
Darkness invaded my vision and I fought desperately to stay awake. I needed to tell him that I was not scared. I yearned to express to him that my trust in him ran so deep that I feared nothing. I longed to express that my fear was not for myself but for him; that if anything ever happened to him, my life would be fruitless. Death would be a welcome respite. But nothing happened. Sleep continued to wrap me in its hollow embrace. Edward stroked the scar that permanently marred my wrist and continued to recite the sweet words of Emily Browning.
My body twisted and turned in the plush heaven I found myself. I was floating pleasantly in the middle of consciousness and sleep. Slowly, the heavy comforter was being lifted off my body causing the fresh air to swirl around me. It lifted from my shoulders with deliberate slowness till it was pushed back toward my hips. My blue tank top left little to the imagination but I couldn't find the strength to open my eyes and confirm if it was Edward. As soon as his fingers ghosted over my bare skin on my shoulder, the electric current that passed through us vanished all doubt.
He created a circuit all up and down my bare arm. His breath fanned my face and, I swear, I felt the intensity of his eyes. Yet, instead of feeling examined, I drew comfort from his presence and I sighed contentedly into the mattress. I don't know long we sat like that, appreciating the presence of the other. I felt a smile tug at the corner of my lips as his breath became more prominent around me. "I love you, Bella, never forget that." And with those final words, I was asleep.
The sun streamed through the heavy drapery of the room. I sat up slowly, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. I immediately noticed the absence in the bed and swung my legs around the side. I grabbed a sweater from the chair and quickly threw it on. I tiptoed out of Edward's room slowly, trying to prevent anybody from hearing me, even though it was fruitless in a house of vampires.
I crept towards the second floor at a slow pace. Every bedroom door was wide open inviting me into their private sanctuaries. Usually, my curiosity would have gotten the best of me but I had more pressing issues on my mind. I finally reached Carlisle's study and noticed that the door was left slightly ajar. I peeked my head through the minuscule crack to see if that is where the congregation was taking place.
I immediately saw Alice on Carlisle's aged leather couch with a distant stare gracing her features. Jasper sat examining her closely while grasping her hand in a forceful manner. Hushed voices wafted through the air and I was surprised to hear they were speaking at a deliberate pace.
"Edward, we must think this through. Victoria is clearly willing to go to any extremes to avenge the death of James. Her movements are very precise and she is forgoing making any concrete decisions till the final moment in order to dodge Alice," Carlisle paused, sucking in an audible yet unnecessary breath. "We must isolate her when she is far from for Forks so we do not draw any attention to ourselves. Perhaps you should suggest a visit to Florida for Bella until we remedy this…situation."
"Bella won't go," Edward whispered, "don't you remember her little stunt in the airport after she learned that James had her mother. She is so stubborn…" I couldn't control the smile that crept at my features at his accurate description. "Edward, maybe this is the time to unleash your more persuasive skills…" Carlisle continued. It worried me deeply that Carlisle felt that need to send me away. Was I really that much of a liability to the Cullen Family?
Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted. An eerie silence filed the room on the other side of the door. The tension was palpable even I could feel it. "Edward…" Alice's soprano voice cut through the silence, "It's Victoria. She's gone. Her future has vanished…"
An update! I haven't forgotten about the story considering this idea has been nagging me for months. I already have the next chapter started so hopefully it will be up shortly (like a week!)
This chapter is dedicated to law school - you have completely sucked so much fun out of my life and created a creative blackhole that it has forced me to take refuge in my writing. Amen.
